Thursday, August 6, 2009

WAMC: 51% Show # 1046 (2009-07-30)

WAMC: 51% Show # 1046 (2009-07-30)

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Thursday, July 9, 2009

eScape




I had the great pleasure of taking on a small guest role on Mike Feurstein's great series "eScape," this past week. We filmed on location at Lake George on board The Morgan with beautiful weather.

I love working with Mike -- he is the type of director who knows what he wants, allowing you, as the actor, a lot of creative room in the process. Thus, I had a brilliant time taking with my character on set and only needed him to say, "Take it up a notch," or "Tweak it down a little" in terms of the intensity.

Don't you just love a good day at work? Hopefully, I'll literally have something to show for it soon - stay tuned!

Friday, June 26, 2009

My Acting Reel is Now Available Watch!

I just finished editing together my acting reel, full of scenes from the short films I've been in over the past couple of years. I'd love for you to check it out!

Please visit: www.heidiphilipsen.com, and let me know what you think.

Thanks!
Heidi

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back?

The most difficult thing for me about the entertainment industry is uncertainty; you never know how things will work out.

And yet, turn this scenario around and you also find a lot of positive: you never know how things might turn out.

You are only as good as your last gig: Today crummy? Tomorrow is a new day!

I went to three call backs, two castings and was in a feature film. I thought my cards were decently stacked.

They all ended up jokers.

C'est la vie! That, truly, is life. In the end, the true test for me is pulling what positive I can away from these experiences, moving on, and, hopefully, building a more solid foundation for something better tomorrow.

I can't help but wonder, however, in this results-driven society, when have you finally made it? Does anyone really make it? Is that really the point?

Sometimes I'm angry at myself for having the courage to go after my dream and first love in life; to be an actress. I had a budding career as a journalist in Berlin and, in comparison to now, felt like I was on top of the world.

But I had to go and interview George Clooney, Shirley McClaine, Jamie Foxx, Michelle Yeoh and remembered, through them, my first and last true love: acting, the theater, film. They inspired me to the point that I gave everything up to move to the Big Apple, an enormous undertaking in and of itself.

It all seems like lifetimes ago.

You know, I get to a plateau where I think I understand it all -- and then the world takes another turn, and I realize that the only thing I know is that there is so much to know that I know nothing.

How's that for wisdom?

I think that Picasso said it best: Je ne cherche pas, je trouve. I do not search, I find.

So, let's sum up what could be found from the three callbacks, a feature film and no dice:

1.) I love auditioning and am getting to be good enough to receive a callback -- an enormous honor in an of itself.

2.) I need to work on my callback technique.

3.) I could use more work on "Acting for the Camera."

4.) I need to get out there and see more theater and meet more people.

The other thing I love about acting? You can never, NEVER say that you've exhausted all of your resources. And, thus, it is back to the drawing board.
I'll keep you posted.

Monday, June 8, 2009

Whisper Me a Lullaby


Big, Big week this week:

I'm heading off to a callback at one of my favorite professional theaters in the world (I'm not exaggerating), which shall remain nameless for the moment (you understand, actor's superstitions).

Wednesday, my film A FORK IN THE ROAD, see last week's posting below, screens at the New Filmmakers Summer Series.

And then, on Friday, I begin work as "Aunt Jane" in a brilliant feature film, in which I'm extremely excited to be a part, called WHISPER ME A LULLABY. It's written and to be directed by Christina Vinsick.
If you're curious, you can check out the official web-site: http://www.whispermealullaby.com/Site/Home.html.

Life is good right now. Stella Adler once said, "You act with your soul. That's why you all want to be actors, because your souls are not used up by life."
Too true, too true. Like a vampire's kiss in Stephanie Meyer's book TWILIGHT, once bitten by the acting and creating bug, you are possessed by its energy inside and out -- and any thing else seems less than human.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

A FORK IN THE ROAD's official premiere with the New Filmmakers' Series at the Anthology Film Archives in New York City!


A FORK IN THE ROAD -- the short film written, produced & directed by Heidi Philipsen-Meissner, and starring Michigan actors Grant Krause, Barbara Coven, Matt Anderson & Shelby Howe will be screening this month (JUNE 10th @ 6 p.m.) with the New Filmmakers series in New York City at the Anthology Film Archives.

For more detailed information on tickets, directions and times, visit either the New Filmmakers or Anthology Film Archives web sites, by clicking on the title links above.

You can also check out the film's official web site for details:

www.aforkintheroad-themovie.com.


Hope to see you there!

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

New Day

The quality I love most about actors and the talents that acting lends to them is the ability to reinvent and refine.

You are never confined today to what you were yesterday (unless, of course, you've made extremely bad choices in life and have committed some horrible crime).

And so I take back what I said in my last blog about age -- 37? Hah! I stay in shape and look like most 30 year-old-women with seven years' more life experience for my craft. I laugh in the face of aging and age stereo-typing by creating my own work and testing it to the max, pushing the boundaries in the process.

Life is fragile. Acting, writing and directing teach me to embrace and make the most of it.

Today, I send my thank yous out into the world for all of the truly beautiful people out there who live life with generosity and true integrity -- and rewrite their own destiny every day.

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Personal Crossroads, II

I received many supportive notes of encouragement, wisdom and understanding in response to my last Blog.

One friend offered insight into this stage of life -- wisdom shared from the experience of realizing that we are not immortal and that life truly is only valued in its day-by-day seizing.

Another mentor suggested that I maintain my focus on "creating, creating, creating" and that, in doing so, the process of creativity will bring me closer to understanding the true meaning of life, as well as get me through the sadness of mourning.

And my next door neighbor, who noted my saddened expression from day to day of late, left a book on my doorstep with a kind card, filled with encouragement.

I believe that we have the power to be angels and that, as angels, we do reach out when called upon for help. All of the above extensions of thought and sharing of personal reflections about life and its journey are nothing short of angelic in my eyes and I'm thankful for your kindness.

SEIZE THE DAY

My cousin Debbie was wonderful at being positive in spite of all the odds -- she fought cancer for fifteen years and, we all thought, had it beaten. She thought she could beat it and, thus, so, too, did we. She wanted to live. Pure and simple. Even toward the end, after the cancer had been found in her thyroid and she could barely talk, she refused to stay bedridden. If there was a family gathering, she was there. Any time I traveled to Wisconsin to visit the family, she'd be the first at Auntie Neva's, where I'd being staying, to get to me and give her magic hug.

And even though cancer did slow her down in the end, preventing her to do all of the things she loved, Debbie never stopped taking interest in the active lives of those she cherished. Her mother, my aunt, Beverley, said that Debbie would love to hear about all of the new things that I was doing in television, film and theater... she talked of me as a hero.

In all honesty, Debbie is my hero -- far more successful in living her life than I should ever hope to be in living mine. I've complained too often, felt sorry for myself too much, and teared up in jealousy over anther's accomplishments that trumped my own.

Debbie was not like that.

Still, she must have seen something special in me -- as have my angels who've passed their wisdom and caring thoughts along -- and for this I live each moment wholly.

CREATE, CREATE, CREATE

I finally feel as if I am beginning to get this thing called "acting." I no longer have the energy or muse to act -- but relish the moment to take on an author's words and thoughts, sit in the moment, and let them be my own.

It is such a pity that the American creative industry is so obsessed with youth alone -- I feel like, now that I'm 37, I have finally lived enough to posses the proper insight to understand the material with which I want to analyze and create.

I don't know how old I look, I only know how old I feel -- I feel timeless, ageless, and free from the tethers of a history book. I could waltz across its pages.

And so, heading the advice of an old mentor and far away friend, I "create" without looking back--or memorizing my own space on the virtual timeline.

In fact, just in the past three weeks, I've auditioned for two equity theaters (in two different states), worked as a precision driver in Columbia Picture's thriller feature film SALT with Angelina Jolie, finished the storyboard for my next short, period piece film, and finally found a great female Director of Photographer, with whom I see a solid working collaboration as divinely possible.

I create to celebrate life -- mine, my families', yours, and Debbie's.

I sense that Debbie, like many of my friends and relatives who are dearly departed, is watching over me and living with me. Therefore, one could infer that I'm not really just living for my self.

That being said, I guess I better make each day of this life a good one. Shakespeare, if you're listening, I'm going to be making romantic comedies out of the next few years, as I've had enough of the tragedies, so get out your quill and ink and start taking notes.

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Personal Crossroads

I am not one to wear my religion on my sleeve -- in fact, I believe it is better to show your faith by acts rather than push your religion. I realize that I may not be in tune with many of the religious creeds out there, but then, again, many a war has occurred from people of various religions pushing themselves on other peoples.

Furthermore, this Blog is more of a launching format to speak about my career, rather than just my personal life -- or spiritual life.

Still, there comes a time when all things join at a crossroad and ones personal, professional and spiritual paths intersect.

Thus, here I stand, in the center of a circle of chaos, created as a result of recent, traumatic events: My dear, dear cousin died of cancer this past month, I lost my job the month before, I found out that my father has prostate cancer four months ago--and I have not found what I'm looking for in a place to heal my wounded and mourning spirit.

And so, the next several Blog entries are going to talk a little about my journey in servicing these needs and healing the wounds that are still very raw.

Perhaps you, too, have come to such a crossroads, recently, and are searching for the reigns to guide you back to a full and heart-felt life. If so, I invite you to join in the conversation and pass it along.

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Back from L.A.

I just returned from Los Angeles, where I was promoting the film "The Beggar's Story."

My involvement in The Beggar's Story, a short story based upon the Czech folk tale and directed by Czech director, Lucie Groene, originated from a single phone call from Kurt Mayry of the Motion Picture Institute of Michigan.

And thus, excited about working in Europe on a transatlantic production, I pulled up my arm sleeves and dug in, helping Lucie out in any way I could: I translated her script from German to English, assisted with coaching the Czech actors (who did not read or speak English) with their English dialogue and accents, took on the role of the mean neighbor (who has no name) and acted in the film, helped out with the shop set decoration and assisted on location in the country-side outskirts of Prague.

Talking about jumping into cold water -- I had no idea that I'd be the only English-speaking person on set, other than Lucie, and learned a LOT about the Czech way of artistic life (beer for lunch -- not with lunch, FOR LUNCH!!!)

Really, now that I think of it, I could make a great short film about my experience on set as the only American.

All that being said, if you're looking to see a well-crafted old Czech folk tale that's great for the whole family, I highly recommend it: www.beggarsstory.com.

This little short film with a big heart had its West Coast premiere at the International Family Film Festival and was screened in the Pickford (named after Mary Pickford) theater within Raleigh Studios.

Raleigh Studios is the current home of the Thursday night series "Private Practice" on ABC -- which I follow -- and I couldn't help but crane my neck into its lot to check out its set. Raleigh Studios is also the studio behind the new studios opening up in Detroit, Michigan: Motown Pictures.

There were many great student-made short films at the fest and I was delighted to meet the other film makers. I was also delighted that my friend Adrianna Shaw, the actress, producer and distributor (www.womensfilmnet.com), who is busy getting ready to launch her major film site for, about, and by women in film, was able to make it.

We had a brilliant lunch together, complete with my very own birthday-candle-on-a-cake, at the popular Mels Drive-in Diner -- and I received a free, birthday t-shirt (I'll post a picture on the next blog).

Look to spring
I'm finishing pre-production for a short film that will begin shooting in mid-April -- a period-piece and thriller, set in the 1800s. I'll be launching the film's official story and web-site very soon.

And then there's the PERSONAE ENSEMBLE -- the theater actors' ensemble which originated in Ann Arbor, born from a class at Jeff Daniel's Equity Theatre, The Purple Rose. I've never felt closer to directing and acting than I did when I was working with local talent in an ensemble format toward the common goal of grassroots theater with a social cause.

So keep your eyes open and get ready for new life -- we are all able to change and make the most of this life and this world for the positive, with the natural talents we possess.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Moving on

There comes a time when, in spite of your best efforts, you realize that a others may not see your intentions the way that you do.

I gave it all to lead a Public Access television station into a new era of Community TV and public access to freedom of speech in the media age.

Unfortunately, the very person who hired me, who had much different plans, but did not communicate them, did not agree.

And that's it. You cannot force something that is not meant to be.

You can only be your best, be true, hold onto your integrity and ethics, and step aside when the bull is charging.

Those beasts never know what is behind the red flag.

Oh, and by the way, should you see this post and then go back to realize that it's not there anymore, you're not crazy. The bull may push for me to take it off.

So much for freedom of speech.

Thursday, January 1, 2009

December Success, New Sights for January

I can hardly believe that December, with all of its festivities and moments for reflection, has come and gone. Boy -- what a month!

I have been so busy with writing my latest film, a short to be included in the Motion Picture Institute of Michigan's Directors' Club DVD series compilation, to be shot in April in Upstate, New York, that I failed to report the latest news: I was chosen to be profiled in BACKSTAGE, the actors' weekly newspaper for New York, L.A. and everywhere in between, for getting the part in Alex Uhlmann's short, colonial period piece "Across the River and into the Trees."

As you may, or may not remember, my son Max and I both had the great joy and fortune to be cast in this extremely well-crafted tale about a young man and his journey to save his brother, which was shot in Upstate, New York on the RED digital camera.

So, there you have it -- click here and you'll be taken directly to the online copy of the article.

January
I love January for the symbol of new hope in a New Year that it brings. We put the tree, still lit, on the porch, to remind us of last year's December festivities, while donning our cleaning clothes and digging into the practical sights of planning, cleaning, organizing and sorting.

I have to admit, I love cleaning. It gives me a sense of terrific pride and practicality.

I've got new reasons to clean and prepare this year -- 2009 is going to offer new challenges and tribulations. I will continue to act, write, direct and produce, pushing the envelope as far open as I can. After all, creativity is about the living of life and expressing our interpretation of this experience.